Position is said to rank second only to the starting cards in importance in a poker game; it should strongly influence whether or not you play your hand. In hold’em, as opposed to stud, where the betting order is fixed, you need to be aware of your position.
Before the flop the player to the left of the big blind bets first and after the flop the player to the left of the button acts first. Being first to act puts you in a weaker position in terms of being raised by one or many of the players after you. Several raises might even see you folding without even seeing any cards, also, being first to act means you have no idea how many players will call or fold.
Sitting higher on the playing order means that an early pre-flop bet can be made tentatively hoping for good communal cards whereas a later positioning would confirm the option to bet, having seen everyone else play already. Of the 169 possible 2-card starting hands in hold’em, 80 are worth playing and only 24 are worth playing from an early position.
The following table describes table positions and the relative strengths and weaknesses in a 10 player game:
| Table Position in a Ten Player Game |
| 1 |
Small Blind |
Early Position Under the Gun after the flop. |
| 2 |
Big Blind |
Early Position. Has the option of checking on first round before the flop. |
| 3 |
Under the Gun |
Early Position. Acts first before the flop. |
| 4 |
Early |
Second person to act before the flop. |
| 5 |
Middle |
Third person to act before the flop. Middle after the flop. |
| 6 |
Middle |
Can play a few more starting hands if no raises. |
| 7 |
Middle |
Can play a few more starting hands if no raises. |
| 8 |
Middle/Late |
May be considered middle in aggressive game. |
| 9 |
Late |
Second to last after the flop. |
| 10 |
Dealer Button |
"On the Button" acts last after the flop. |
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